Christopher Landers's Comic Reviews

All in all, this book was trying to accomplish a lot in a limited amount of space. Essentially, the entire issue is a series of conversations about the fate of Mera and Atlantis. In lesser hands this could have been completely, mind-numbingly boring, but with Abnett it just seems like a slightly slower issue necessary for setup. It could have used at least one big action sequence purely for pacing purposes, but the next issue will probably be heavy on the fighting, so it can be forgiven. The creative team definitely has my interest for the next issue, based on the last page alone.

In the end, even though this was mostly an action issue, with very little character work going on, the creative team pulled it off very well. The warrior side of Aquaman was fun to indulge in, even if only for an issue or two, but it also leaves the reader wondering whether this might be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Arthurs anger. Between that hint at the darker side of Aquaman, and the inevitable showdown between him and King Rath next issue, its shaping up to be an extremely exciting time to be a fan of the underwater hero.

In the end, this issue was a dark spot in an otherwise very enjoyable story arc. Raths backstory, while needed to flesh the character out, should have come earlier and not have been concentrated into a single issue. Aquaman is missed, but surely he will be back next issue to continue his violent siege of Atlantis. One can only hope that Abnetts stalling is over and Arthur will finally get his hands on Rath next month.

In the end, this was a satisfying issue in a compelling arc that has questioned who Aquaman is, what his role in Atlantis should be, and how he will be changing as he moves forward with his life. It seems like Arthur will no longer be the king after this arc and, while it wont be the first time that has happened in the history of the character, Abnett has put Aquaman in a place, character-wise, that seems to say that hell be okay with that and wont necessarily be trying to retake the throne any time soon. That should be an interesting story moving forward, if it is allowed time to breathe and explore Arthur further.

Despite this issue being one more chapter in an overly-long story arc, the pacing is picking up nicely, and Rath has finally become a serious threat, so its definitely enjoyable. If youre at all interested in the fate of Aquaman now that he has agreed to hand the throne over to Mera, or you just like great art, you should definitely be picking up this series. There is plenty of good story ahead.

In the end, Abnett delivered a satisfying ending to what has been an epic story of Aquaman losing his kingdom and fighting to regain it, even if it means he cant be king anymore. This arc, right down to its mind blowing final pages, has literally changed everything about Aquamans current status in the DCU. If Abnett isnt remembered for being one of the best Aquaman writers of all time, there is no justice.

In the end, this was an enjoyable issue, but by far the weakest of the arc. With a lack of any kind of development for Aquaman, and a focus on action instead of character to wrap up the story, it was a less than satisfying concluding chapter. Yes, everything wraps up neatly, but it still felt like Abnett and Williams were just going through the motions of ending the story, rather than providing a big finish.

In the end, even though this gave some nice story time to Mera, it was lacking as a leg of a big Justice League story. Despite all of the world being overrun by toxic water that transforms anyone it touches, this issue just felt like filler while readers were waiting for Snyder to continue the real story over in his book. If youre picking up this title just to complete the Drowned Earth arc, its really not necessary, and if youre picking it up because youre a regular reader, youre probably just going to be disappointed.

In the end, this book was kind of a mess. The plotting and dialogue were sloppy, and the whole issue felt rushed. It would be easy to place these problems squarely on the shoulders of Christopher Sebela, the writer, but it was also really hard to decipher what was supposed to be going on in the art for a good bit of the issue. Scott Kolins has turned in some great work in the past, especially on The Flash, but his storytelling was really hard to follow in this issue. Maybe he was under some kind of time crunch, because he is usually much better. Its also possible that Sebela and Kolins just dont mesh well together. Either way, Blue Beetle #17 really suffered for it.

Overall, this issue served its purpose of wrapping up Jaimes story, while still hinting at more adventures to come, but it was too rushed, and came across as sloppy. The next time DC tackles Blue Beetle, they need take more time to clearly define his position in their universe, where he is coming from, and where they want him to go. Instead of launching another solo series, putting him on a team, such as the Teen Titans or the Justice League, might serve the character better while allowing him to build a bigger fan base.

All in all, despite having a few too many storylines to wrap up, this was a strong issue that focused on Wilson, and the consequences of his mistreatment of the people closest to him. Its likely this is just the beginning of Slades fall, considering where he ends up at the end of the arc, but considering Batman and Slade are facing off in the next story, the readers are in for a fun ride, either way.

Overall, despite being a little confusing as to when this story is happening exactly, this is a fantastic start to a much-anticipated showdown/team-up. Priest seems to perfectly understand both of these characters and their motivations, so, as long as he can keep up the good work, the rest of the arc could prove to be an instant classic.

Overall, despite some less-than-clear plotting, this is still one of the best single issues of a comic DC will put out this month. Priest is an A-list writer, and he is proving it with his recent comeback. If the first two chapters of this arc are any indication, this will become a legendary Batman/Deathstroke story before all is said and done.

In the end, if youve been enjoying this story, you know its been great and theres no reason to jump off now. But, if youre just a fan of Batman and Deathstroke and you havent been picking this story up, there is zero reason you shouldnt be reading this book. Priest looks to have no interest in holding back anything when it comes to this epic showdown and he only keeps upping the ante with every issue, such as the stunning ending to this issue that might make you want to re-read the previous issues to see if you missed something. This is one of DCs better books out right now, and its not getting nearly enough buzz for the quality of its content, so its highly recommended that you run out and pick it up.

Overall, even though not much really happens in this leg of the arc, its without a doubt one of the best issues of the story so far. If you enjoy Damian, and your idea of a good time is seeing two trained assassins annoy each other to near death, then this is the comic for you. As for Batman, while he wasnt exactly missed in this chapter, fingers are crossed that hell be back in full force next issue. Until then, try to keep calm waiting on the beginning of the two part conclusion to this (so far) spectacular crossover story.

All in all, this is one of the stronger chapters in an already great story arc. There are the emotional beats of Wilsons flashbacks to his son fighting for his life after his throat was slit, and Bruce having to tell Damian to back off, and then there is the crazy Batcave fight that just might go down in history as one of the best Batman fights of all time. You couldnt ask for more from a Batman vs Deathstroke story, and you shouldnt get it if you did. These two characters are so similar, and yet so different, and Priest is mining that for all its worth. If youre not reading this story already, youre missing out. Any comic fan would enjoy it.

Overall, this issue could have been stronger as a conclusion to a well-told arc, but it still comes off as a good story. No, things arent quite as well resolved as they should have been, because Priest seems to have painted himself into a corner with certain plot threads, but its still not only one of the best Deathstroke stories in years, but one of the best Batman stories in recent memory, too. If you missed this story as it was released, definitely pick up the trade when it comes out.

All in all, this was not the strongest start to a much-anticipated arc, but Priest has earned readers patience with his storytelling. Its a given that he is going somewhere with this, and wants to challenge not only Slades perceptions of his sanity, but the audiences too. Surely, things will start to make a little more sense as the story goes, and the overall narrative will come together.

All-in-all, this was a pretty solid issue. Despite a lack of action or adventure, Priest is telling a mystery story that really grabs the audience and pulls them in. If he can stick the landing on the reveal of just what is going on with Arkham and Slade, then he just might have a classic Deathstroke story on his hands. Only time will tell, but, as of this issue, its quite a ride.

Overall, this was an issue that delivered a fast-paced, fun adventure that didnt stop from the first to final page. Minor character issues from Barry aside, Williamsons writing was on-point, and he has earned the audience sticking around long enough to see if The Flash will step up to act like the hero we all know he should be.

Overall, this was a solid issue, and Williamson has built his story up to this point nicely. Every arc he has been working on since he started The Flash, has seemingly been leading up to this one, and more than likely further into the Flash War. Its difficult seeing Barry Allen act so far out of character, but there is no doubt that its happening for a reason, and he is in good hands with Williamson moving forward.

All in all, this continues to be a great arc, making fantastic use of all of the supporting characters, and even the villains that Williamson has set up over the course of his run. Hopefully, Barry Allen will snap out of his funk and start making the right decisions soon, but if the end of this issue is any indication, it might already be too late for him to redeem himself. Either way, the future of The Flash looks like its going to be a must-read.

In the end, this issue may be a letdown in terms of Barrys actions seeming out of character, but its still a fun ride. Grodd was as menacing as ever and the action didnt stop, so there is very little to complain about. With Barrys bad choices adding fuel to the fire for the coming Flash War, surely Williamsons questionable story elements will be addressed some time in the near future.

In the end, this was a satisfying, but rushed issue, that wraps the arc up in a nice, neat little bow. The answers given about Barrys odd behavior arent as detailed as they should be, and Grodd is swept off the page with little care, but the Flash is left in a nice place emotionally, surrounded by family, and the love of his life, so the weaknesses are excusable. Especially, when the last page promises an epic arc to come next month.

Overall, this was one of the best issues of the Flash for the fact that it slowed down after an exciting arc and just let the characters breathe. That momentary rest doesnt last for long, though, because this book ends on a revelation that could not only have long-lasting effects on the Flashes, but the entire DC universe. This moment will not be spoiled here, but after you read it, you will be extremely frustrated that you have to wait for the next issue to see what happens.

This issue may just be a prelude, and parts of it certainly seem like obvious stretching of story to fill a certain amount of space, but Williamson still manages to skillfully build tension for the coming arc, showing the madness of Zoom and the deteriorating, but still strong, relationship between Barry and Wally. The goal was to set up the coming arc, and if youre not dying to see what happens next after this issue, there just might be something wrong with you.

All in all, this was a solid start to this hugely-anticipated storyline, and if the last panel doesnt make you wring your hands in anticipation of the next issue, then this just isnt the book for you. This is the story long-time DC fans have been waiting for: Wally remembers everything, and he is not happy with all that he has lost. Couple that with the fact that Barry was seemingly responsible for all of the changes to the timeline in the first place (see Flashpoint), and its easy to see that this story could have long-lasting effects on the DC universe as a whole, not to mention the Flash Family itself.

All in all, this issue gives readers everything they could possibly want out of a Flash story and more, plus a shocking ending that will leave them wondering just where this arc is going to leave its protagonists. Any Flash fan, whether it be from the Barry or Wally eras, should be reading this story, because Williamson is delivering one of the best Flash stories of all time.

Overall, this wasnt the most exciting issue, but it did neatly wrap up the Flash War story, and it does leave readers with a sense of intrigue, not just for the future of this book, but also the future of Wally and the DC universe as a whole. This arc introduced the Sage and Strength forces, brought back Wallys memories of his family, re-established the link between Iris and her nephew, and managed to alienate the Kid Flash from the Flash Family. Williamson covered a lot of ground, and managed to do it in the most exciting, entertaining way possible. This was one of the most epic, memorable Flash stories of all time, and it will be providing material for the book for years to come, but without this final issue, it would have just been a fun story. This epilogue anchors it emotionally, and really drives home the effects it will have on the Flash Family in the immediate and extending future.

As a whole, if youre interested in the new Forces, this issue is the ground floor of getting answers to your questions. If youre not interested in that, there is still the exploration of Barry Allen and his demotion from being the fastest man alive. Williamson has laid the groundwork for plenty of new concepts to explore with his recent Flash War story, and this is the issue where all of that starts to pay off. So, if you like what hes been doing the last few months (and any Flash fan probably would), then you should enjoy sticking around for the fallout.

Overall, this has been a low key arc that provided big answers to mysteries Williamson has been setting up since the end of the Flash War story. This issue brings the introduction to the Strength Force arc to a satisfying close, but leaves the door open to a lot bigger stories. Next issue promises to delve into the Sage Force in, surely, a similar way to this story, so if youve enjoyed what Williamson has done so far with the new Forces, you should definitely stick around.

Overall, this was maybe not the most exciting issue of The Flash, but as a first chapter that is setting up the rest of the arc, it gets the job done. There is still plenty to learn about the Sage Force, and Heat Wave hasnt had the spotlight in a while, so there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming issues. As stated before, Williamson is building up the Flashs world, as well as a new lore, and many writers after him will benefit from it. Its worth sticking around to see all of the exciting new facets of the Flash mythology that are rising up from his run.

All-in-all, this chapter of Williamsons Sage Force arc doesnt have the same magic as most of his recent issues, but the potential for great storytelling is still there. The problem lies with the choice of villain for the arc, because there just isnt much left to explore in Mick Rory. Hopefully, Williamson will provide more answers on the Sage Force next issue, and then move on to Barry fully pushing the boundaries of his powers and his connection to these new Forces.

This issue may not dazzle you or leave you with fond memories for years to come, but its solid, and ends on a couple strong notes. Granted, those notes are pretty much epilogues that have nothing to do with the main story, but they are powerful nonetheless, and they leave you wanting to come back for more. Theres plenty more exciting things to come in the Flash, so, even though this arc was less than stellar, it would be wise to stick around to see what Williamson has planned next.

All in all, Ewings slow burn storytelling might drive away some fans of the classic Hulk Smash version of the character, but if youre a fan of Peter Davids prolific run, which was all about Banner and his ever-changing, fractured mind, then you just might enjoy this story if you give it a shot. Ewing is flexing dramatic muscles he rarely put to use in his runs on Mighty Avengers and U.S. Avengers, and hes turning in some of the best work of his career, so this book is worth checking out for his writing alone.

Overall, this is not a bad issue. Its actually pretty entertaining, but the placement of it, three issues in, while readers are still clamoring for details about what is going on with the main character, makes it come off more as filler than an extension of the last two issues. Filler is fine when its done well, but three issues into a series is not the place for it. Hopefully, given the intriguing ending, this was just Ewing providing the quiet before the storm. Either way, it should be worth sticking around as long as he keeps moving forward, instead of treading water.

Overall, despite Banner and the Hulk playing much smaller roles in this issue, this turned out to be one of the stronger chapters of the book so far. Ewing really knows how to build suspense, and he is definitely working towards something big with this story. His pacing has been slow, but purposefully so. Dont expect things to stay that way, though, especially with next issue promising a huge throwdown between the Hulk and Sasquatch. This book is only going to get better as it goes, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

In the end, if youre not reading this book, youre missing out. Even if youre not a Hulk fan, this is something different, and unique enough, that you should be at least giving it a look. Ewing is turning in the best work of his career with this dark, violent take on the Hulk that still manages to stay true to everything that came before it. It should be at the top of everyones pull list, no matter what kind of comics you like.

In the end, this was a perfectly-constructed Hulk story. Its everything a fan could ask for, including a knockdown, dragout brawl, great guest stars, spot-on writing, wonderful art, and a shocking ending that pushes the limits of what you thought the capabilities of the Hulk were. If youre a fan of the Jade Giant, and youre not reading this book, youre missing out.

If youre not reading Hulk right now, and you claim to be any sort of fan of the character, youre doing yourself a disservice. This is the best the book has been since Peter David left. Dont let the horror/immortal angle throw you off; this is a Hulk book for Hulk fans, written by a man who is obviously very familiar with Hulks history. Pick it up now, and youll be happy you did.

In the end, this story was a lot of fun, and provided some epic moments that harkened back to the Grant Morrison and Mark Waid runs on the JLA. The only weak point in the issue, was that Killer Frost seemed to be getting no punishment for letting the Queen into their reality. She should be going to jail, but instead, the League is offering its support in helping her deal with her disease. This leads the audience to believe that there will be zero-to-no consequences for her, as the end of the issue seems to be springboarding directly into the next arc. Nevertheless, its unlikely her arc is finished, so it will be intriguing to see where Orlando is taking the character.

Overall, this book was akin to watching paint dry. Orlando might have a love for the Extremists and their story, but its not being shared very well with the audience in this issue. The next part of the arc will have to bring in more members of the League, and up the action, if it has any hope of salvaging interest in this storyline.

In the end, this issue was a bore, unless you just love diving into the 90s nostalgia of the Extremists. Fortunately, the final scene teases an upcoming adventure that should be a lot more fun, especially since it will most likely include the whole team and center around time travel. Orlando has done better work and its likely this arc was just here as a little bit of filler before diving into his next big story, so it might be worth sticking around if you were put off by the last two issues.

Overall, this was a solid read that really showed what is possible when an enemy with the power of time travel sets his sights on destroying the League. Chronos should have always been a big threat, and Orlando seems intent on proving that. Odd introduction of a superhero god aside, this was a promising first issue of this arc that should leave readers wanting more.

Overall, this was a fun issue, but it was lacking in forward movement of the plot. Orlando pretty much ends the book one beat after he begins it, with a lot of fighting in-between. Thankfully, there were some nice character moments for the newer heroes on the team, so it wasnt a complete loss. However, the upcoming issues in the arc will have to keep the story moving, and provide more background on Ahl, or risk getting mid-story lag.

In the end, this book could have used another issue to wrap up its overall story instead of cramming it onto the end of the Chronos arc, but it still concluded on a satisfying note. Hopefully, Scott Snyder will pick up on the giant concept that Orlando left on the table when he starts his Justice League run next month, or alternately, they can give Orlando another book to explore that idea. Either way, there are big things ahead for the team, so the story will go on regardless.

Overall, this issue was a decent introduction to the new direction of the book, but it could have really driven home the point that the Justice League of China is an outlaw group now, and given them a clear mission statement. Instead, the team just bumbles around, going from fight to fight, and moving forward in no particular direction. At this point, its unclear if the team is supposed to be rudderless, or if its just a lack of long-term planning by Yang, but the story is intriguing enough to hold the audiences interest for the moment.

Overall, this issue was a fun read with great character moments, and it leaves the reader wanting to know more about the North Korean Aqua-Man, with his mysterious powers and his heartbreaking story of oppression. The creative team had a little bit of a rough start last issue with the title change, and the new focus on the League, but part two of the arc found its footing, and the story is shaping up to be one of the best this book has seen since it began.

All in all, this arc has been a great read so far, and the book itself is turning out to be one of DCs best kept secrets. It almost seems inevitable that this title will be canceled, as these little books not starring the A, B, or C list characters that fans know and love often are. And what a shame that will be, given the books uniqueness in the market, with an entirely Asian cast, a location in another country, and quirky, well-developed characters that draw you in over time. If youre not already reading this title, do yourself a favor and at least pick up these last three issues. You might find that trying new things can be rewarding.

In the end, this final chapter in Janes time as Thor could have been a downer, but Aaron chose to end on a hopeful note. It would have been easy for him to just kill Jane Foster, wrapping up her story in a neat bow and giving the readers the cheap, emotional one-two punch of her death, but he decided on a higher degree of difficulty in his storytelling. Jane does lose her title as the God of Thunder, but her story goes on. Odinson doesnt get the grand moment of reclaiming Mjolnir, but he does still get to reclaim his name. Its obvious there are great things ahead for both characters and hopefully Aaron will be sticking around a long time to tell their stories.

In the end, this was a pleasant one-off story that sets up the near future stories of the upcoming Thor book while also wrapping up the previous era in a not-so-tidy bow. Its clear Aaron is not done with Jane, and thats just fine. Odinson, the returning star, is curiously absent from the special, which may be disappointing to some readers, but he is not really missed in this particular story, and Aaron will be giving him plenty of spotlight over the next few arcs, so its understandable. If youre looking hints about the fate of Jane Foster and the upcoming story involving Malekith, this book will tide you over until perfectly until Thor #1 hits next month.

Overall, if youre the fan thats been waiting on Odinson to reclaim his mantle, this is the book for you. He may not be back at full power yet, but Aaron is crafting a story that will eventually have Thor show how worthy he is, and the ride on the way to that goal will surely be entertaining. Not all of the answers youve been asking are immediately presented to you, but that is in-character for Aarons writing style; he likes to draw out a mystery. It was a while before readers found out Jane was the new Thor, but it made total sense when it was finally revealed. Aaron is always good for the payoff, so its worth sticking around for the answers.

In the end, even though this issue drags a bit, every series deserves a moment to slow down and set things up for the future. Aaron has certainly earned the readers patience with his storytelling, and, given the promising ending to this chapter, readers are in for a treat in the coming weeks. Be patient, and you will surely be rewarded.

All in all, after a slower previous chapter, this issue brought all of the up-tempo action and rich character moments it needed to regain any waning interests of the readers. Hopefully, Aaron will be able to keep this momentum going and maintain this books status as one of Marvels most entertaining titles, despite Thor still not being worthy. If youre not already reading the Thunder Gods return to greatness, now is the time to jump on.

In the end, this book was perfectly fine, and even provides some great comedy beats, but Aaron is going to have to bring back a little bit of the emotional weight he tossed out the window after Janes departure. A Thor book should feel epic in every way. Gods move amongst mortals, having earth-shaking battles in this title. Everything is big, and the consequences should always matter at that scale. Humor is great, especially coming from Aaron, but there needs to be a little bit more balance. He had a strong start, but once the Hel arc began, it just felt like Aaron wanted to do pure comedy, despite that not matching the contents of the story. Hopefully, hell get back on track soon, instead of descending into the wackiness that was his X-men run.

All in all, this was a pretty flawless issue. Even if youre not a big fan of the Old Thor stories, this one is the one to read. Even if you thought Wolverine as the Phoenix was a goofy concept, give it a shot. Its not played for laughs. This is a deadly serious story, and both characters are written exceptionally well. This is, by far, one of Aarons best issues of Thor so far. If youre not currently reading this book, you should at least give this one a try.

In the end, this was an amazing, action-packed, super-fun detour into the future of Thor and the Marvel Universe. If youve enjoyed Aarons take on King Thor in the past, you will love this issue. If youre new to Aarons Thor altogether, buckle up; its a wild ride full of pure insanity, but its worth sticking around for the next big ball of crazy hell inevitably throw your way.

Altogether, this book had a good bit of action, but simultaneously did not get a lot accomplished storywise. Silver Swan is defeated, and Jason feels inadequate in his ability to follow in Dianas footsteps. Thats the gist of it. Unfortunately, it feels like the entire arc was just filler, or a prelude to the real story. One could say that every story arc in a comic book hints at what will be happening next, but it truly felt like nothing important happened in this one, except for the big story beats at the end. Hopefully, there will be further development for Silver Swan coming.

All in all, this issue was a sleepy tale of Diana and Steve unwinding at the end of their day, with little to nothing happening to move the story along. Its hardly the way anyone would have hoped the next big Wonder Woman story arc would begin, but given the opening scene with Darkseid, and the eyebrow-lifting note the book ends on, it is hopeful that this is just the extreme tip of the iceberg, with much more excitement to come.

In the end, this was a solid read, despite the wonky pacing, and it promises to pick up next issue. The teaser at the end alone pretty much guarantees an epic battle is coming, and Darkseid hasnt even reached the shores of Themyscira as the title of the arc promises, so there is plenty more excitement on its way.

All in all, this issue felt like filler, and poor filler at that. By the end of the book, Robinson finally delivered on the promise of the teaser from the issue before, but its too little, too late. If this arc has any hope of being saved, the pace is going to have to pick up on the back half.

This issue was light on character work, but still managed to work in a few satisfying moments while giving the audience the action it had been sorely missing the last few issues. If Robinson can continue this pace for the remaining issues of the arc, he should be able to deliver a pleasing conclusion that would make up for the weak start to the story.

All in all, the only thing the reader can take away from this arc is that it could have, and should have, been better. Robinson clearly phoned in this story, and it shows. All of the right ingredients were there, and it just fell apart in the end. As the next series of issues deal with fallout from Scott Snyders Dark Nights: Metal event, hopefully Robinson will be able to draw inspiration from the wealth of material provided by another superstar writer. Until then, readers will likely be stuck with the bad taste in their mouth from this arc.

Overall, Robinson still has a lot of improvement to make in his handling of Wonder Woman. Its frustrating to read his run on this book, because he is a proven, stellar writer, but it seems like he is just going through the motions, barely caring about taking time to craft a good story. All of the ingredients for a classic run are there, but he just keeps missing the mark. With the promising ending of this issue, there is still time to save it, but its not likely Robinsons run as a whole will be remembered fondly by anybody.

In the end, this was another disappointing chapter of Wonder Woman from Robinson. The shift needs to come back to Wonder Woman and really focus on her being the hero of her own book. Even the end of this issue, while meaning to set up the upcoming annual (why in the middle of this arc?), really only seems to serve the character of Jason and his heros journey. Hopefully, Robinson can bring it back to Diana and fix his consistently-wonky pacing before the end of this arc, or it wont even be worth finishing.

In the end, Robinson is failing to sell this story to readers when hes barely gotten to the point of the arc three issues in. It also feels like the readers have seen this from Wonder Woman before. The whole story seems uninspired, as if Robinson is just trying to fill his time left on the book. Hopefully, he finds inspiration as he moves forward, because he is a talented writer (Starman is one of the best comic book stories of all time as a whole), but so far, this story is dead on arrival.

Overall, Robinson showed some improvement this issue, but he could use an editor that would challenge him as a storyteller and not let him get away with giant, confusing plot holes that negate the effectiveness of the story. He has improved his pacing with this issue, but, considering the next part of the arc is the conclusion, its just not enough for this story as a whole to be recommended to anyone.

In the end, this was an extremely satisfying issue, providing a great one-off story with amazing character work, not only for Wonder Woman, but for the villain Mayfly as well. Few writers get the delicate balance of Wonder Womans love of peace and her skills as a warrior, but Orlando nails it. She is not in Mans World to fight. She does not enjoy violence. If possible, she will talk to someone first, because she truly cares about all people. Thats the character in a nutshell, and Orlando proves he understands her perfectly with this story.

Overall, Orlando has been hit and miss on JLA in the past, but he seems to have a good handle on the character of Wonder Woman and what makes her tick. Add in Aztec, one of the strongest new characters from his League run, and the extremely entertaining Artemis, and youve got a story that is off to a fun start. If you werent a fan of James Robinsons recent run on this title, give Orlandos mini-run a shot. Its sure to wash the bad taste out of your mouth.

As stated above, this is an intentionally simple story, by Orlandos design, and thats fine. He has a limited amount of time to work on this title before the permanent creative team comes in, so he cant set up a long-term story. Given those limitations, he has been doing a heroic job as a fill-in writer, so far. This issue is no exception, and he seems to have more fun planned for his makeshift trio of heroes next issue, so it should be worth sticking around to see what happens.

In the end, this was the weakest chapter so far of the current arc. Its just disjointed and out of place, leaving the whole issue feeling messy and rushed. Maybe there were constraints with the amount of room Orlando had to tell his story, especially with a new permanent writer coming on after him, or maybe he just doesnt like exposition, even when its necessary. Either way, the story was hurt by the abrupt changes and new characters being wedged in. With any luck, Orlando will regain his footing next issue, because his run has been pretty solid up to this point.

In the end, for a finale issue, it felt like Orlando could have done more. Stronger character development for Rustam and Faruka II, or a better sense of who they were or where they were coming from, could have helped make this arc infinitely better. Instead, readers were thrown into a story that feels like it began in another book, and there was no work done by Orlando to catch the audience up. If he had extra room to work, this would have been a much more enjoyable read. As it is, it was hard to feel invested in any of the characters or story for this concluding chapter.

Even if you missed the first chapter of The Witching Hour, you shouldnt let that scare you away from picking up this issue of Wonder Woman. Everything is pretty well explained, and you wouldnt feel lost as long as youre willing to wait for Tynion to fill you in later in the book. The story itself is entertaining, and marks the return of the epic magic story that hasnt been seen in a while from DC, so its definitely worth a look if thats what youve been missing from this company.

Overall, not much happens for Wonder Woman in this chapter of The Witching Hour, but the story around her was enough to keep the average person invested, and the threat of the rules of DCs magic being completely rewritten is more than enough to draw readers back in for the next issue. Even if youre not picking up the rest of this story, Tynion has done a fine job of making the Wonder Woman chapters self-explanatory, so its not completely necessary to spend the extra money so far.